Pardon the religious analogy. But frankly, other than a Copper Bowl trophy and a weekly Chip and Joanna HGTV makeover, Baylor Nation has not had much to sing about in recent months.

Blessed, therefore, is the Baylor men’s basketball team. The Bears’ 61-57 Big 12 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday lifted their record to a perfect 15-0 and cleared the path for their ascension into the top spot in the Associated Press poll.

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The most proper perspective, as it turned out, was rendered by the losing coach, the Cowboys’ Brad Underwood.

“They’re probably going to be No. 1,” Underwood said, with a nod towards Bears coach Scott Drew. “Remember where they were when he got here. Let’s not forget the remarkable job he’s done.”

Underwood didn’t need to elaborate. When Drew assumed the coaching reins here 13 years ago, Baylor was considered more of an excavation job than a rebuilding job.

Because of NCAA sanctions levied for the ills of the previous coaching staff, Drew’s third Bears team wasn’t even allowed to play non-conference games. It wasn’t until his fourth year that Drew had the luxury of signing a full scholarship allotment.

But now look at the Bears.

Smart. Seasoned. And ferocious on defense.

“They’re really old,” Underwood added, “and I mean that in a great way. This is an old, experienced basketball team. You win in college basketball with age.

“I don’t know how many redshirts they have (four starters), but it’s a bunch. That allows them to extend the playbook. It allows you chemistry at both ends of the court.

“Nothing rattles them. There’s a maturity.”

Though ignored in this season’s preseason polls, Baylor knocked off No. 4-ranked Oregon, No. 24 Michigan State and 10th-ranked Louisville, all in November. A 15-point win over No. 7 Xavier gave the Bears three wins over Top 10 opponents.

By the second week of December, Baylor itself had soared to No. 4 and earned six first-place votes.